Matisyahu…Hasidic Reggae Music

Coming to the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts October 24th, Matisyahu brings his uniquie sound of Jewish reggae music to Storrs. Matisyahu is currently getting some success in the mainstream with the live version of the song ‘King Without a Crown‘, which has broken into the Modern Rock Top 10; an accompanying video and new album – ‘Youth‘ – produced by Bill Laswell were released on March 7, 2006. On March 16th Youth was Billboard magazine’s #1 “Digital Album” and as of April 4th stands at 16th on iTunes’ top album. Also, his most recent accomplished output of exposure was his live showing in front of over 80,000 people at the Bonnaroo Music Festival 2006. In November 2005 Matisyahu was among the top 5 members in the American Jewish community in The Forward [2]. Matisyahu was given an Esky for Most Lovable Oddball in Esquire’s 2006 Esky Music Awards. The magazine called him “the most intriguing reggae artist in the world.” In an interview with Chabad.org, a popular Jewish website, Matisyahu states that “All of my songs are influenced and inspired by the teachings that inspire me. I want my music to have meaning, to be able to touch people and make them think. Chasidism teaches that music is ‘the quill of the soul.’ Music taps into a very deep place and speaks to us in a way that regular words can’t.”